History
Little is known about the history of Torres Novas prior to the conquest of the city from the Arabs in 1148 by Don Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal. It is assumed that several peoples called the area home, including the Greeks, Romans, Celts and Arabs. The Roman presence is well established based on the ruins at Vila CardÃlio.
The castle, which had fallen into ruin, was rebuilt in 1190 by Sancho I. The castle was further rebuilt by Ferdinand I in 1376. The city grew up directly around the castle.
The city was surrounded by walls until the 16th century when it began to expand beyond its historical boundaries. The original walls were demolished during the 19th century.
Read more about this topic: Torres Novas Municipality
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—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
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